Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-11-24
New England Supper.


al public for the New England supper
last Thursday evening was evidently a
pleasing one and at. early candle light
the guests began to arrive. Mrs. Bare
ber's house was all thrown open in an-
ticipattou of large gathering, but it is
not probable that IN the widest flights
of fancy the ladies imagined that this
church sociable in disguise, would
prove such complete success fran
cially aud socially. The dining room
in Mrs. Barber's house had been trans
formed into an old fashioned New
England kitchen. where over the blaz-
ing logs in the large fire place an old
time kettle hung from an old-time
crane. On the mantel were many very
ancient looking pieces of pewter and
other relics of the time long gone.
Among these we especially noted an old
wooden cider pitcher, showing in its
broken and defaced visage and in the
worn lines about its mouth, the ravages
of the century and half that it is
claimed has passed over it; an old
horn drinking cup stood near it and a
wooden pepper box cut out by soldier
in Valley Forge. Over the mantel
hung an old rifle and powder horn and
mirror that has reflected passing gen.
erations for many years. Strings of
dried apples, strips ofpumpkin. bunch
es Of corn, all the dried need cessties
of an early day, hung suspended on
stout ropes about the room. An old
dresser with its burden of rare china
and pewter stood stiffiY against the
wall, and an ancient spinning wheel,
stilled forever, seemed to recall, as
spirit of the scene, the ghost of some
departed spinner. The room was light
ed by candles in every conceivable kind
of candle stick, and trays and shutters
stood at hand TO lend their pleasant SER
vices On the tables were a goodly ar
raw of 'vittles." Mush and milk,
baked beans, Boston brown bread,
doUghnuts, pumpkin pies, and the like.
1t was hungry crowd that gathered at
the tables, which were many times
cleared and filled and still they came.
At nine o'clock when the dining room
had been finally cleared for action, the
Peake family were announced and
headed by Sukey Jerushy Ann Petit
gill made their appearance. The crowd
was so great that some failed to get
the best of the fun, but most were with
in sight and easy hearing. Miss Name
Barnett as 'Jerushy' was, 10 familiar
slang, "immense, and her extern
porized hits provoked much merriment
The eleven Peake sisters in their "neat
becoming customs went through their
marvellous performances with great
solemnity.
The famous sisters were represented
by Misses Maud Carney, Laura Schrei-
ner, Laura Baxter, Nettie Woolsten-
holme, Fannie Schmitt, Lizzie Schmitt
Name Hyde, Emma Schreiner, Clara
Jones. Bessie Calls and Hattie Hyde.
In order to understand the excellence
of the entertainment one must see the
only original Peakes in the naive per-
Torrance of their elaborate program.
The Ladies of the church feel very
grateful to them for their kind assis-
lance as their services whre given to
aid the ladies' fund. They also desire
to express their thanks to those who
loaned the various articles of antiquity
that were displayed that night.
Taken all together this sociable was
the most successful the ladies have ever
given. TWAS indeed a church sociable
though there are those who declare that
they shall hereafter maintain that
there is a good deal in name, Shakes
pere to the contrary notwithstanding